[Non-Sequitur]

If the Morill Tariff was such a big bone of contention for the southern political leadership then why didn't they secede in May 1860 when it passed the House? Why wait for almost a year? Unless, of course, they are fixing on the Morill Tariff as a lame attempt to deny that defense of slavery was the single most important reason for the rebellion?

[GOPcapitalist]

If the Morill Tariff was such a big bone of contention for the southern political leadership then why didn't they secede in May 1860 when it passed the House?

It could have something to do with the fact that there was still an election up for grabs in November and that the push for a tariff could still be halted. The Lincoln and his party changed all that.